Carton-filling machine.



I No. 858,116. PATENTED JUNE 25, 1907.

' R. SUNDBRMAN.

CARTON FILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 14, 1905.

5 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES.

Z 6 2 Q4. M u 7 INVENTOR rm: NORRIS PETERS co., wn5nmcmu, n. c.

No. 858,116. Y PATENTED JUNE 25, 1907. R. SUNDERMAN.

CARTON FILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 14. 1905.

I 2 SHEBTSSHEET 2.

ATTORNEYS THE Aromas PETERS 00., wasnmcmlv. u. c.

RICHARD SUNDERMAN, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

CARTON-FILLING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 25, 1907.

Application filed March 14,1905. Serial No. 250,012.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD SUNDERMAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved CartonFilling Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to machinery for filling cartons, and admits of general use, but is of peculiar value in instances where it is desired to make and fill the carton during practically one continuous operation. While my present invention may be used in carton making machines of various kinds, I preferably employ it in a machine such as is described in my pending application, Serial No. 214,159, filed June 25, 1904.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a vertical cross section on the line 11 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrow, through a carton making machine equipped with my improved filling mechanism Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section taken upon the line 22 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section upon a reduced scale, taken upon the line 33 of F ig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow, and showing the means for moving the carton into position to be filled and for removing the carton after filling; and Fig. 4 is a detail section upon the line 44 of Fig- 2, looking in the direction of the arrow, and showing a part of the mounting for the auger stem and the bevel gear for actuating said stem.

Broadly considered, my invention comprises mechanism for moving a carton into position to be filled, means for forcing into the carton, while in stationary position, the material to be filled into the carton, and mechanism for removing the carton after the filling thereof.

Considered. more in detail, my invention embodies a moving chain provided with a flight for engaging the carton and for pushing the same along a passage-way to a predetermined point, and then leaving the carton in stationary position, a force-feed mechanism operated intermittently and positively for the purpose of forcing into the carton the material with which the latter is to be filled,

and another moving chain provided with flights for engaging the sides of the carton now stationary and passing it along in order so that the several other steps, such as closing the flaps of the-carton, stamping the carton, etc. may be fulfilled, as described in my application above referred to.

A framework 5 is provided with a pair of parallel top plates 5*, 5 and mounted in this framework are bearings 6 supporting a revoluble shaft 7 connected with gearing 7 Mounted'upon the shaft 7is a driving pulley 8, a driven pulley 9and a sprocket wheel 10. From this sprocket wheel 10 an endless chain 11 extends to another sprocket wheel 12, the latter being rigid upon a shaft 13. Supporting this shaft is a standard 14 provided with bearing brackets 15, 16 integral therewith and in vertical alinement with each other. The shaft 13 extends through a bearing sleeve 17 preferably integral with the standard 14. A cam 18 having approximately the form of a semi-disk as indicated in Fig. 2 is mounted rigidly upon the shaft 13 and is consequently revoluble with the sprocket wheel 12. A disk 19 rests upon the cam 18 and is rigidly secured upon a vertical augur stem 20 provided with a spline 21 having preferably the form of a flat strip extending entirely through the stem 20, which is slotted for the purpose as indicated in Fig. 4.

Mounted rigidly upon the lower end of the auger stem 20 is a spiral conveyer thread 22, this part and the stem together constituting what I call the auger. The auger revolubly engages a bearing sleeve 23 disposed at the lower end of a hopper 24. This hopper terminates in a chute 25 of cylindrical form, which loosely encircles the conveyer thread 22 of the auger. A belt 26 is mounted upon the pulley 9, and is also mounted upon a pinley 27 which is keyed upon a shaft 28 supported in a bearing sleeve 29, the latter being integral with the standard 14. Mounted upon the opposite end of the shaft 28 is a bevel gear 30 which meshes with a pinion 31 on the auger stem 20 as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. This pinion encircles the stem 20 and is provided with beads 32 disposed radially opposite each other, these beads making a neat fit upon the stem 20. The pinion 31 is further provided with spline-ways 33 which are of arcuate shape and of comparatively great width as will be understood from Fig. 4. The auger stem 20 is not only free to re- IIO volve but is adapted to move vertically. Its downward movement is accomplished by its own weight, together with that of the conveyer thread 22 and the disk 19, whereas its upward movement is accomplished by means of the cam 18. Should the stem start to move downward under its own weight, the spline 21 is not apt to strike the beads 32, and if it does the stem is momentarily sustained by these beads until the rotation of the bevel pinion 31 displaces the beads, whereupon the stem 20 is free to drop. As the pinion 31 is always rotating no appreciable delay occurs in the descent of the auger A pair of revoluble shafts 34, 35 are respectively provided with sprocket wheels 36, 37 rigidly mounted thereupon, and further respectively provided with gear wheels 38,

39, the two gear wheels meshing together aswill be understood from Figs. 1 and 3, said revoluble shafts being supported in bearing brackets 40. Flights 52, 54 traveling as they do with the sprocket chains, are adapted .each to push a carton along. As the path followed by the cartons is straight and the flights, by virtue of their connection with the sprocket chains, necessarily travel around the sprocket wheels, it follows that the cartons are picked up at one point by the flights and are dropped by the flights at another point.

Supported by the framework 5 are a number of guide rails 43, 44, and 47, forming a passage-way 46 through which the carton 46 is moved as will be understood from Fig. 1. Supported by the top plate 5 and by the rail 43 is a rocking pin 48 held in a predetermined normal position by a spiral spring 49. Mounted rigidly upon this pin and adapted to rock therewith is a shutter 50 of the shape indicated in Fig. 3, the outer or free end of this shutter being adapted to close the entire lower end of the cylindrical chute 25 as willbeunderstoodfrom Fig. 1. A sprocket chain 51 is partially supported by the sprocket wheel 36 and is provided with one or more flights 52 for the purpose of moving the carton out of position after being filled. Another sprocket chain 53, similarly provided with one or more flights 54, is mounted upon the sprocket wheel 37 and is adapted to move the carton into position. The movement of the sprocket chains causes the flights to propel the cartons.

According to the view shown in Fig. 3, the sprocket wheel 37 has a contra-clockwise movement, whereas the sprocket wheel 36 has a clockwise movement. An arm 47 a is rigidly mounted upon the rocking pin 48 and is substantially in alinement with one edge of the shutter 50 as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3. When the arm 47 a is caused to rock, the shutter 50 necessarily describes a like movement.

IThe carton 46 is provided with flaps 46, which at the stage of filling are necessarily left open and which are afterward closed either by hand or by appropriate machinery, as for instance, mechanism of the kind described for the purpose in my above mentioned pending application.

The operation of my device is as follows: The carton having been formed in any desired manner and ready for filling is carried along the passage-way 46 by direct pressure of the flight 54 until it reaches a point a little in advance of that indicated in Fig. 3, the carton moving to the left according to this view. The flight 54, having at this point a radial movement, necessarily drops the carton, leaving the latter in stationary position.

This occurs at the instant when the carton is directly under the shutter 50, the latter being in its normal position and therefore directly under the chute 25 so as to completely close the lower end thereof as will be understood from Fig. 1. The driving pulley 8, together with the other pulleys upon the shaft 7, are always in motion. By virtue of the belt 26 motion is conveyed to the pulley 27 and thence through the shaft 28 and bevel gear 30 and bevel pinion 31 so that the latter move continuously. The stem 20 has an intermittent rotary movement, for the reason that it is raised periodicallyby the cam 18, the latter rotating continuously by motion received from the sprocket wheel 12 and sppocket chain 11. The material is fed t ough the hopper 24 and is always free to descend as far as the conveyer thread 22, but if the latter is stationary the material is unable to pass out. It can readily be seen that this is easily effected, especially in cases where a substance such as ice cream is used. The carton 46 just before stopping when dropped by the flight 54 as above described, moves against the arm 47 as will be understood from Figs. 1 and 3, thereby causing the arm 47 to rock contrary to the tension of the' spring 49 and thus removing the shutter 50 from the lower end of the chute 25. A rotary movement of the cam 18 next allows the stem 20 to descend in the manner above described. When the stem 20 in descending reaches such a point that the spline 21 is engaged by the beads 32 the rotation of the pinion 31 is conveyed to the stem 20 thereby setting up a rotation of the conveyer thread 22. The result is that the conveyer thread descends nearly to the bottom of the carton, carrying with it the material to be filled in, and at the same instant by its rotation packs the material firmly into the carton. This packing is done firmly and with considerable pressure, if desired, so as to force the ma terial snugly into the corners of the carton. The cam 18 next raises the disk 19, thereby lifting the stem 20 and causing the conveyer thread 22 (the latter still being in motion) to work its way backward through the material, meanwhile packing the latter constantly until the conveyer thread is completely out of the carton and has again become stationary. The flight 52 being constantly in motion now settles against the carton 56 and moves the latter along the passage-way 46 The displacement of the carton from its stationary position disengages the arm 47 which being retracted by the spring 49 snaps back to its normal position, the shutter 50 at the same instant necessarily resuming its normal position, for, as above described, it is rigid relatively to the arm 47 and the rocking pin 48. The movement of the shutter 50 back into its normal position cuts off the material being filled into the carton and holds it ready to be thrust into the next succeeding carton. In other words, the shutter covers and uncovers the carton, and in so doing is con trolled by movements of the carton. As all of the parts are positively driven there is no chance for any part to perform its function at other than the proper moment.

Having thus" described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent l. The combination of means for holding a carton in position to be filled, an anger for forcing into said carton a material Wherewith it is to be filled, automatic mechanism for throwing said auger into and out of action at predetermined intervals, and mechanism co-acting with movements of said auger for moving said carton into and out of position.

2-. The combination of a frame provided with a passage-way along which a carton is adapted to travel, means for stopping and starting said carton, a feeding mechanism for forcing into said carton the material Wherewith it is to be filled, said feeding mechanism being provided with a revoluble stem, a pinion encircling said stem and normally idle relatively thereto, and automatic mechanism for throwing said pinion into and out of action relatively to said stem.

3. The combination of a chute, an auger mounted therein and revoluble relatively thereto, means for supporting a carton at a point adjacent to said chute and in favorable position to be filled, means for actuating said auger so as to force a material into said carton, and automatic mechanism for raising said auger While in motion from said carton and for stopping said auger after being thus raised.

4. The combination of force-feed mechanism for filling a carton, automatic mechanism for stopping and starting said force-feed mechanism, and means controllable by movement of a carton for cutting off the supply of material delivered by said force-feed mechanism.

5. The combination of a frame work provided with a passage-way, means for moving a carton along said passage-way, mechanism for supplying to said carton a material to be filled thereinto, a shutter for cutting off the supply of said material, and mechanism provided with an arm projecting into said passage-way and partially obstructing the path of travel of said carton for operating said shutter.

6. The combination of a framework provided with a passageway along which cartons are adapted to travel, a flight for moving a carton into a predetermined position, automatic mechanism for filling said carton while in such position, another flight for displacing said carton from such position, and

means for automatically stopping and starting the supply of material.

7. The combination of means for holding a carton temporarily in a fixed position, a chute registering with said carton when in such fixed position, a movable shutter for cutting off and restoring communication between said chute and said carton, mechanism mounted within said chute for forcing a material therefrom into said carton, means for automatically stopping and starting said last-mentioned mechanism, and mechanism controllable by movements of said carton, after the filling thereof, for actuating said shutter.

8. The combination of a chute for supply ing a material to be filled into cartons, a revoluble auger mounted within said chute for the purpose of propelling said material therein, cam mechanism for raising and lowering said auger, means for turning said auger, and mechanism for moving cartons into and out of a predetermined position relatively to said chute.

9. The combination of a chute for supplying a material to cartons to be filled, a revoluble auger mounted within said chute and adapted to propel said material, mechanism for turning said auger, and means for periodically disengaging said mechanism from said auger so as to stop the rotation of the latter.

10. The combination of means for holding a carton, a chute associated with said means and adapted to permit the flow of material for filling said cartons, force-feed mechanism connected with said chute for propelling said material therein, means for stopping and starting said force-feed mechanism, and a movable shutter for cutting off and restoring communication between said chute and the carton to be filled.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RICHARD SUN DERMAN.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM A. MINoTT, J. F. OHUMAsEno. 

